Single-Engine Time Building in Florida: The Smart Way to Build Hours
Cessna 172s and Pipers, wet rates down to $60 an hour, and year-round flying weather — here is how to build single-engine time efficiently at KFXE.
Why Single-Engine Time Is the Backbone of Your Logbook
Whether you are working toward a commercial certificate at 250 hours or an airline career at 1,500, the vast majority of those hours will be single-engine. Building them cheaply — without cutting corners on experience quality — is the single biggest financial decision of your training.
At $115 per hour elsewhere, 1,000 hours of single-engine time costs about $115,000. At our top-tier rate of $60 per hour wet, the same hours cost $60,000. That difference alone can pay for your CFI, CFII, and multi-engine add-ons.
Our Single-Engine Fleet
Cessna 172 — the world's most proven trainer, with forgiving handling and excellent cross-country capability. Several of our 172s are equipped for IFR time building.
Piper Archer TX (N711ND) — a Garmin G1000 glass cockpit aircraft, ideal for pilots who want modern avionics experience in their logbook before airline interviews.
Piper Warriors — including N352AC, a full IFR aircraft with dual Avidyne Entegra EX5000 touch screens, dual Garmin 430W navigators, and weather and traffic displays. Glass-panel time at round-dial prices.
Every aircraft is company-owned and maintained by our in-house team on the field at Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport.
Wet Rates That Reward Commitment
Our single-engine pricing starts at $100 per hour and drops with every package tier: $90 at 10 hours, $80 at 50 hours, $78 at 100 hours, down to $60 per hour at 1,500 hours. Every rate includes fuel — no surcharges, no hidden fees.
Where You Will Fly
South Florida cross-countries are anything but boring: routes up the coast to Palm Beach and Vero Beach, down through the Keys, across the state to Naples and Fort Myers, and into busy Class B and C airspace around Miami and Fort Lauderdale.
You will finish your time building with real radio confidence, real weather decision-making, and a logbook full of destinations — not just circles around the home field.
Shared Time Building: Log PIC at Half the Cost
Pair with another pilot and alternate between flying under simulated instrument conditions and acting as safety pilot. Under FAA regulations both of you log PIC time, which effectively halves your cost per logged hour.
Our Rates Vs Other Operators
Single Engine Pricing
| Cost / Hour | Days | Total Cost | Other Operators |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular Rate – $100/hr | $100 | $115/hr+ | |
| 10 Hours – $90/hr | 1 Day | $900 | $115/hr+ |
| 50 Hours – $80/hr | 5 Days | $4,000 | $115/hr+ |
| 100 Hours – $78/hr | 10 Days | $7,800 | $115/hr+ |
| 200 Hours – $76/hr | 20 Days | $15,200 | $115/hr+ |
| 300 Hours – $74/hr | 30 Days | $22,200 | $115/hr+ |
| 500 Hours – $70/hr | 50 Days | $35,000 | $115/hr+ |
| 1000 Hours – $65/hr | 100 Days | $65,000 | $115/hr+ |
| 1500 Hours – $60/hr | 150 Days | $90,000 | $115/hr+ |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cheapest way to build single-engine flight time?
Buy a larger package at a wet rate and fly shared. Our single-engine rates drop from $100/hr to $60/hr at the 1,500-hour tier, and shared time building lets two pilots log PIC simultaneously.
Which single-engine aircraft can I rent at KFXE?
Cessna 172s, a Garmin G1000-equipped Piper Archer TX, and full IFR Piper Warriors with dual Avidyne Entegra touch screens and dual Garmin 430Ws.
Can I build instrument cross-country time in your single-engine fleet?
Yes. Several of our single-engine aircraft are IFR-equipped, and shared time building under simulated instrument conditions is one of our most popular options.
How many single-engine hours can I fly per week?
With 12-hour daily availability 7 days a week and 300+ VFR days per year, most time builders fly 40–60 hours per week.
Start Your Single-Engine Time Building — Apply Now
Keep reading: time building at KFXE, current hourly rates and program pricing, our aircraft fleet, the Airline Pilot Program, or the pilot training blog.